Richmond

A city in its own right, Richmond is anchored on a group of islands between the north and south arms of the Fraser River, and greets visitors to Vancouver via the city’s international airport. Home to the second largest Asian community in North America, the heart of Richmond (nicknamed The Golden Village) boasts numerous shopping malls, restaurants and karaoke bars that reflect its Asian roots. At the other end of the city, Steveston Village offers a trip back in time with historic commercial cannery buildings (the ultimate wabi-sabi experience) and fresh seafood restaurants dotting a picturesque boardwalk.

EAT:

Lamb curry from the Curry House at Yaohan Centre (it received rave reviews in the New York Times) (3700 No.3 Rd.).

DRINK:

Microbrewed beers while watching seaplanes descend and jet away at the Flying Beaver, near the original Vancouver Airport (4760 Inglis Dr., 604-273-0278).

BROWSE:

Highend fashion and furniture stores, and Daiso — a cool Japanese dollar store selling everything you didn’t know you wanted or needed — at the Bing Thom-designed Aberdeen Centre (4151 Hazelbridge Way, 604-270-1234).

editor’s choice

RICHMOND NIGHT MARKET

Few Friday night events in the Lower Mainland rival the Richmond Night Market when it’s in full swing in the summer. True, on paper it sounds like just your average hawkers flea market — and you can walk away with bags full of junkie impulse buys, if that’s to your fancy — but import DVDs and exploding birthday candles aren’t the draw here (though faux Louis Vuitton bags have been known to entice some). For starters, there are the dozens of food vendors serving delicious, authentic street food. Think fresh watermelon juice, hot and cheesy Malaysian bread, shrimp dumplings, fish balls in curry sauce or tapioca with fresh coconut. But it’s the atmosphere you’ll most want to soak in: locals literally flood the market (it’s open until midnight on weekend and holiday evenings). From hipster teens to the familial patriarch, everyone’s out. There’s a wonderful community vibe (considering the event takes place in suburbia, surrounded by parking lots and big box stores), and you’ll get the inkling that you’ve stumbled upon the heart of the city, if for just a night. Open from May 20 until September 25 (12631 Vulcan Way, just off Bridgeport Road behind Home Depot, Richmond. richmond nightmarket.com).